PIB: No Pressure From Oil Firms, Northern Leaders – Reps

In a direct shift from the position of northern senators on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the House of Representatives adhoc committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has disclosed that there is no regional interest in the House, adding that the committee has not also received pressures from stakeholders in the petroleum sector.

Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon Ishiaka Bawa, who made this known yesterday while addressing a press conference, also said they have however, received memoranda from players in the sector highlighting areas they want addressed by the committee which he said is focused on transparency in undertaking the task.

He explained, “Nobody is mounting pressure on me or the committee. So far I can authoritatively tell you that Iam not under any pressure. Yes we have received some letters and memoranda from oil firms.”

Commenting on the position paper by Northern Senators on the bill, Bawa said the panel was independent of the workings of that of the Senate but pointed out that all divergent issues will be sorted out when the two committees meet during harmonisation of their final reports.

It will be recalled that during the debate on the PIB in the Senate, northern senators opposed? its passage, leading to a division on regional lines.

In the same event, Bawa, who is also the chief whip of the House announced that as part of efforts to ensure that no sector, individuals or the grassroots is left out of making input to the bill, the committee would take the opportunity to them by conducting public hearings in the six geo-political zones from April 22 to 23.